Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 5.djvu/310

302 very well, that I could produce many more instances of the same kind. But these are enough in so short a paper as I intend at present.

It is indeed very true, that after king William was settled on the English throne, the presbyterians began to appear, and offer their credentials, and demand favour: and the new king, having been originally bred a calvinist, was desirous enough to make them easy (if that would do it) by a legal toleration; although in his heart he never bore much affection to that sect; nor designed to favour them farther than as it stood with the present scheme of politicks; as I have long since been assured by the greatest men of whig principles at that time in England.

It is likewise true, nor will it be denied, that when the king was possessed of the English crown, and the remainder of the quarrel was left to be decided in this kingdom; the presbyterians wisely chose to join with the protestant army, rather than with that of king James their old friend, whose affairs were then in a manner desperate. They were wise enough to know, that this kingdom divided against itself, could never prevail against the united power of England. They fought pro aris & focis; for their estates and religion; which latter will never suffer so much by the church of England, as by that of Rome, where they are counted hereticks as well as we: and consequently they have no other game to play. But what merit they can build upon having joined with a protestant army, under a king they acknowledged, to defend their own liberties and properties against a popish enemy, under an abdicated king, is, I confess, to me absolutely inconceivable; and